Market: Solid results please the industry
SALES The market for new passenger cars in Switzerland and Liechtenstein grew by 7.7 percent in February. 18,521 new registrations represent an increase of 1,323 vehicles compared to the same month last year.
The evaluations by auto-schweiz are based on federal surveys.
After two months of 2024, the Swiss car market is at the previous year's level with 33,757 new cars, much to the delight of the industry. The traditionally weaker first two calendar months of the year do not yet provide a clear picture of the possible market development in the current year.
Hoping for spring business
Christoph Wolnik, Deputy Director of the importers' association auto-schweiz: "We are now looking forward to the start of spring business, which was heralded by the Geneva International Motor Show. Demand from private customers is still at a low level. We hope that this will soon change thanks to the robust economic situation. A more precise analysis will only be possible with the figures for March and April."
Stabilization of alternative drives
Like the market as a whole, the number of new passenger cars with alternative drive systems stabilized in February, rising by 21.1% to 10,831 compared to the same month last year. With a market share of 31.2%, almost every third new vehicle has a full or mild hybrid drive. Fully electric models account for 17.8 percent of new registrations, with plug-in hybrids accounting for another 9.5 percent. Petrol engines have a cumulative market share of 32.4 percent and diesel engines 10.2 percent.
Target values for new cars
During the consultation on the future CO2-Following the adoption of the Swiss Finish Act during the spring session of the Swiss parliament, the target values for new cars are still subject to annual interim targets between 2026 and 2029. With a wafer-thin majority, the National Council is insisting on this Swiss Finish, which is expensive for consumers and is clearly rejected by auto-schweiz.
Refrain from symbolic politics
President Peter Grünenfelder explains: "Adopting the European targets without interim targets is a realistic policy, as car manufacturers build vehicles for the entire continent and not separately for Switzerland. Decreasing targets every year would lead to rising CO2-sanctions and thus lead to higher vehicle prices and should therefore be clearly rejected, as the Council of States has already done. The majority of National Councillors should now refrain from such a symbolic policy. It would be expensive and unrealistic and would place a greater financial burden on SMEs and families when purchasing vehicles from 2026."
